Check your clocks and irrigation timers this weekend

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Smart water use helps manage your investment in your home, your family and Florida’s future

PALATKA, Fla., March 9, 2023 — As daylight saving time begins this Sunday March 12, the St. Johns River Water Management District is reminding Floridians to check their irrigation systems and ensure timers are operating correctly.

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As you “spring” forward this weekend, please check your irrigation timers and inspect your sprinkler system for leaks.

“More than half of all residential water is used outdoors for lawn and landscape irrigation,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Mike Register. “Much of that water can be saved by ensuring your irrigation system is working efficiently and by only watering when necessary.”

Public water supply is the largest category of water use in the District’s region — about 569.5 million gallons of water a day. Improving landscape irrigation practices can save water, improve your landscape, save money and help protect water quality at the same time.

Overwatering can encourage mold and fungus, weaken grass roots, and promote weeds and undesirable insects. Water is wasted when broken or misdirected sprinkler heads spray water onto sidewalks and pavement, and water runoff from oversaturated yards often carries fertilizers, debris and nutrients into natural waterways, which leads to poor water quality.

Watering restrictions are in place to ensure that water used for irrigation is used efficiently. During daylight savings time (second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November), irrigation is limited to no more than two days a week on the following schedule:

  • Wednesday and Saturday at addresses that end in an odd number or have no address.
  • Thursday and Sunday at addresses that end in an even number.
  • Tuesday and Friday at non-residential addresses.
  • No irrigation is allowed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Water-saving tips can be found at WaterLessFlorida.com.

Join the conversation at #sjrwmd #waterconservation.